Page 11 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 115 - September 2023 - BINDED_Neat

Do you use the vote?

Many of us are a part of local, national, or global organizations that give us a
vote as members. Do you use it, do you use the voice on issues that you have been
given? For example, I have been a member of the National Trust for some years.
Diligently they send me voting papers annually, they can stay on the “TO DO” pile
for some time, one of the jobs that I will do tomorrow. Then, when I do look at the
voting paper, the deadline has passed. My opportunity to be a part of the organiza-
tion has been lost, I cannot get my voice heard when they want to know what mem-
bers think on green issues, membership fees or membership terms and conditions.

Other opportunities include our banking or savings accounts, they may be with
a mutual financial organization who ask members to vote on how the business
moves forward.

Do you own shares? How often in the last five years have you attended the
company AGM or used the vote they send? Do you know what the Equal Pay policy
is for that company? Do they sign up for WEPs? ( https://www.weps.org ) . These
are opportunities for us to have our voice heard……

Even my local supermarket gives me a chance to vote, as my reward member-
ship qualifies me to do so. (https://www.co-operative.coop/get-involved/voting ).
This is a food retailer that gives us an opportunity to appoint local and national rep-
resentatives who vote on which charity should receive donations, how they move
forward with issues like stocking Fair Trade foods (https://www.fairtrade.net/
product ), and of course, green issues with food waste, food air miles and so much
more.

So, next time that envelope comes through the letter box, don’t just recycle
the contents, look to see if they need to hear from you, if they want to listen to the
voice we have on so many issues…..

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/annual-general-meeting?
campid=email_central_AGM_01082023_NT0923AGM01-Mod1

Joanne Kinsey
President BPW UK